Radially-sliding wind turbine

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a wind turbine for the generation of wind power is described. The wind turbine includes one or more turbine blades that slide radially through an axis of rotation of the turbine as the turbine rotates. Accordingly, the faces of the one or more turbine blades do not rotate into the wind.

1 ) A wind turbine comprising: 
 a first rotational axis; and    at least one turbine blade adapted to radially slide through the first axis of rotation.    
     
     
         2 ) The wind turbine of  claim 1 , further including at least one radial-directing device, the radial-directing device being adapted to guide at least one turbine blade in a general radial direction when sliding.  
     
     
         3 ) The wind turbine of  claim 1 , further including a yaw mechanism, the yaw mechanism adapted to rotate the wind turbine to substantially face the wind.  
     
     
         4 ) The wind turbine of  claim 1 , 
 further including a second rotational axis, and    wherein the first and second rotational axes are generally (i) horizontal, and (ii) perpendicular to wind direction.    
     
     
         5 ) The wind turbine of  claim 4 , further including at least one rotating arm, the rotating arm comprising a center portion and at least one arm end and being adapted to rotate about the second rotational axis at the center portion.  
     
     
         6 ) The wind turbine of  claim 5  wherein: 
 the turbine blade includes one or more blade edges, a proximal end, a distal end, a top end, and a bottom end;    the turbine blade being rotateably coupled to the rotating arm end at a blade edge center point; and    the rotating arm length is (i) less than or equal to the length between the turbine blade top end and the turbine blade bottom end, and (ii) at least as great as the distance between the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis.    
     
     
         7 ) The wind turbine of  claim 6 , further including: 
 at least one first rotational axle, the first rotational axle generally centered on the first rotational axis;    at least one second rotational axle, the second rotational axle generally centered on the second rotational axis; and    a transmission, the transmission coupled to the first and second rotational axles.    
     
     
         8 ) The wind turbine of  claim 7 , wherein the second rotational axle spins at a higher rate than the first rotational axle.  
     
     
         9 ) The wind turbine of  claim 8 , wherein (i) the first rotational axle includes a first gear, (ii) the second rotational axle includes a second gear, (iii) the transmission device is a chain, (iv) the gear ratio is greater than one, and (v) the second axle is coupled to the rotating arm.  
     
     
         10 ) The wind turbine of  claim 1 , further including (i) a generator operatively coupled with the first axle, and (ii) at least one deflection blade, the deflection blade being relatively stationary and located generally proximal the first rotational axis.  
     
     
         11 ) A wind turbine comprising: 
 at least one rotating arm, the arm including a center portion and at least one end portion, the center portion substantially centered on a second axis of rotation and the end portion orbiting around the second axis of rotation; and    at least one turbine blade, the turbine blade (i) coupled to the end portion of the rotating arm; (ii) adapted to rotate about the end portion of the rotating arm;    and (iii) moving radially through a first axis of rotation.    
     
     
         12 ) The wind turbine of  claim 11 , further including a deflection blade, the deflection blade being adapted to direct wind onto the turbine blades.  
     
     
         13 ) The wind turbine of  claim 11 , further including at least one turbine blade slider, the turbine blade slider being centered on the first axis of rotation and being adapted to (i) guide at least one turbine blade in a general radial direction when sliding; and (ii) rotate about the first axis of rotation.  
     
     
         14 ) The wind turbine of  claim 11 , further including a yaw mechanism, the yaw mechanism adapted to turn the wind turbine to substantially face the wind.  
     
     
         15 ) A method of generating electrical energy from wind, the method comprising: 
 installing a wind turbine in an area with wind flow, the wind turbine including (i) a first rotational axis; and (ii) a turbine blade adapted to slide radially through the first axis of rotation;    facing the wind turbine to substantially face the wind;    rotating the turbine blades; and    converting the rotational blade movement energy into electrical energy.    
     
     
         16 ) The method of  claim 15 , further including a second rotational axis, and wherein the turbine blade rotational movement is generated by: 
 wind flowing onto the turbine blade;    the turbine blade moving towards a first rotational position by (i) at least partially rotating about the first and second axes of rotation and (ii) radially sliding away from the first axis of rotation; and    the turbine blade moving towards a second rotational position by (i) at least partially rotating about the first and second axes of rotation and (ii) radially sliding towards the first axis of rotation.    
     
     
         17 ) The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first rotational position is a substantially vertical position.  
     
     
         18 ) The method of  claim 15 , the wind turbine further including at least one deflection blade and at least one radial-directing device.  
     
     
         19 ) The method of  claim 18 , wherein 
 the blade rotational movement is generated by (i) wind flowing onto the turbine blade, (ii) wind flowing onto the deflection blade, and (iii) the deflection blade wind flow being directed towards the turbine blade;    the turbine blade moves towards a first rotational position by (i) at least partially rotating about the first and second axes of rotation and (ii) radially sliding away from the first axis of rotation; and    the turbine blade moving towards a second rotational position by (i) at least partially rotating about the first and second axes of rotation and (ii) radially sliding towards the first axis of rotation.    
     
     
         20 ) The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first rotational position is a vertical position.